Cheek rest for firearms



Dec. 16, 1947.

J. C. GARAND CBEBK REST FOR FIREARIS Filed lay 24, 1945 Patented Dec. 16, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) .6 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in firearms and is directed more particularly to a novel cheek-rest for a firearm which is adjustable relative to the stock so that the operator of the arm may obtain a proper sighting thereof under all conditions.

It has been a common disadvantage in most rifles or arms fired from the shoulder that the sight for one reason or another is off-center with respect to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. Particularly is this so when the arm is provided with a telescopic sight, such as is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 597,052 filed June 1, 1945, where the sight is necessarily slightly to the left of the axis of the barrel.

It will be appreciated that in order to obtain accurate sightin when the sight is thus oif-center, the operator firing from a shoulder position must hold his cheek slightly to the left of the stock. The result is that the operators head is not at all supported and there is a lessening of accuracy and efficiency in fire.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a cheek-rest construction for a firearm which is adapted for efficient and accurate use by operators having widely different physical characteristics. That is to say, this invention provides a cheek-rest member which is adjustable so that any operator may readily adapt the weapon to his particular requirements.

It is another object of the invention to provide a firearm cheek-rest which, besides being adjustable to accommodate the varying physical differences in military personnel, is also provided with protective means arranged to render the weapon more serviceable in wide extremes of temperature.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shownin the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is an exploded perspective view showing a portion of a stock of a firearm with the various components of the cheek-rest construction of the invention shown in exploded relation thereto.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of a firearm having the cheek-rest construction of the invention associated therewith.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the cheekrest construction of the invention in assembled association with the stock of the firearm.

While the disclosure is that of a cheek-rest disposed on the left-hand side of the stock for use by a right-handed operator, it will be understood that the construction is such that it may be readily adapted for use by a left-handed operator who, consequently, is in need for a rest for his left cheek instead of the right.

In Fig. 1, there is shown a stock 2 of conventional shape which may be used with a shoulder firearm of any desired type, for example, the U. S. Rifle, caliber .30, M1. The other parts of the weapon are not pertinent to this invention, and hence they will not be described in detail. There is shown, however, a telescopic sight 4 which is located forwardly and slightly to the left of the central axis of the stock and, of course, on the upper side thereof.

The usual butt plate and swing swivel are shown at 8 and Hi, respectively, but obviously form no part of this invention. There also is shown a rear sight 12 which is of usual construction and located centrally of the axis of the barrel. This likewise is not to be understood as constituting any part of the present invention.

Through the stock 2, preferably approximately midway between the butt plate and pistol grip portion 6 of the stock, is a transverse opening or hole l4 having counterbores Ha at opposite ends thereof. The hole [4 is preferably inclined downwardly somewhat from the side of the stock 2 to which the cheek-rest is to be attached. This laterally-extending opening 14 is adapted to receive in opposite ends thereof what may be called hollow bushings or receivers, indicated generally by 23, which have reduced diameter portions 22 fitting into the hole i4 and head portions 24 which engage the opposite side surfaces of the stock.

These bushings or receiver members preferably have intermediate portions 25 of suitable diameter to snugly engage in the counterbores 14a and the portions 26 may have a roughened surface, such as the serrations shown, or otherwise, so that when the bushings are forced into the stock, the said irregular surfaces engage the wood in such. a way as to prevent both lateral and rotary movement of the bushings relative to the stock. The stock is preferably chamfered around the entrances to the opening 14 so as to facilitate reception of the receivers 20.

An additional transverse opening or hole 29 is provided in stock 2. Hole 29 is preferably spaced a substantial distance forwardly from opening M and is parallel thereto.

A cheek-plate or rest member is shown at 30. This may vary in size, shape, and form, accordber 35 is externally threaded, as at 38.

ing to the particular firearm with which it is to be associated, as well as according to the certain requirements desired. In any event, the plate member 39 is so formed as to be capable of more or less embracing one side surface and preferably a portion of the upper surface of the stock, as shown. While in its preferred form, this cheekrest body member is composed of metal, its particular composition is immaterial.

As shown in the drawings, the member 36 has a pair of horizontally-extending rod members 32 and 34 rigidly secured thereto. The rod 34 is adapted to extend through stock opening 29 for guide purposes only, in a manner which, and for a reason which will presently appear. The rod member 32 is screw-threaded so as to be threadably engageable by what may be referred to as an operating member 35. The latter consists of a hollow cylindrical bushing member having internal threads for engaging the rod 32. An enlarged head part 39 is provided on the operating member and it may be knurled or otherwise provided with an irregular surface 4! so that the member may be manually engaged to bring about rotation and lateral movement thereof as will be described.

A longitudinal axially parallel hole 49 is provided near the periphery of head 39 of opera ing member 3% and. this is for receiving one end portion of a pin member or detent 42 which has a compression spring 44 therearound, as shown. The head part 46 of detent 42 engages the outer surface of the adjacent bushing 23 and the spring 44 thus urges the operating member 38 outwardly for a purpose which will presently appear. That particular bushing 26, against which the head part 46 of member 22 is to bear, has a notch or seat 25 in its outer face for receiving said spring-- pressed member 42 when the operating member is rotated so as to bring head part 46 and notch 25 into alignment.

The opposite end of the rod or operating mem- When assembled the operating member has its outer or threaded end portion 38 extending thru the bushing 20 adjacent the check-plate 3e and projecting beyond the plane of the stock and this has assembled thereon a washer-like member 59 having an inwardly-extending lip or lug 5'2 receivable in a longitudinal slot 57 provided in member 35 so that as the latter rotates, the member 50 is also caused to rotate.

The washer 59 is also provided with one or more projections or lugs 54 on its outer side face. An

internally threaded nut member 56 threadably engages the threaded end portion 38 of operating member 36 and is arranged to be disposed adjacent the outer face of member 55. Said member 56 has one or more U-shaped slots 58 for receiving the lug or lugs 54 so that the said member 55 will rotate simultaneously with the members 36 and 56 when the latter rotate as described. Assembly of the cheek-rest is brought about by inserting operating member 36 into one of the said bushings so that its said threaded end porticn 38 extends through the bores of both of said bushings or receivers and the lip part 52 of the Washer 59 is slidably received in slot 3? thereof, while the lug 54 of said washer is receivable in one of notches 58 of the nut 56. The axial openings of all of these various parts are, of course, adapted to receive the threaded rod 32 therethru and it is threadably engaged by operating member 35.

In operation, manual rotating of the operating member in one direction will cause the cheek- 75 plate to move outwardly away from the stock while rotation thereof in an opposite direction will cause it to move inwardly. The detent 42 serves to resiliently secure the operating member to the adjacent receiver 20 in any one of a plurality of positions of varying threaded engagement between the operating member and the threaded rod 3|.

As has been mentioned, it is preferred that the stock openings l4 and 29 be downwardly inclined in a direction away from the side of the stock adjacent to which the cheek-plate is to be disposed. Likewise, of course, the rod-like parts 32 and 34 are inclined or angularly disposed relative to the general plane of the side surface of the plate so as to cooperate with said inclined openings. Thus, it will be seen that the cheek-plate may be adjusted laterally with respect to the stock (that is, spaced relatively close to or distant from the stock) as well as being adjustable in a vertical plane. In other words, as the plate is moved outwardly, the inclination of the transverse opening l4 and the guide hole 25 together with the angular arrangement of the rods 32 and 34 provides for elevation of the plate relative to the top surface of the stock.

When disassembling the construction, the cheek-rest member may be entirely disengaged from operating member 3% by counterclockwise rotation of such member and then the latter may be urged inwardly against pressure of the spring 44 so as to release the slotted nut member 5% from engagement with the lug 54 on washer member 58 so that the nut member 5'5 may be manually rotated and removed from engagement with the rod 32. This obviously permits removal of the other parts just mentioned from association with the stock, for easy repair or replacement purposes.

As will be understood, then, the plate or cheekrest member is capable of both lateral and vertical movement. This makes it pcssibie for a soldier or any other operator, regardless of his physical characteristics, to obtain a maximum of sighting efiiciency and to fire the rifle from his shoulder with expediency and accuracy.

As a further feature of the invention, the cheekplate 3E3 may be provided with a protective covering or layer 60 of some suitable material which is adapted to both prevent abrasion to the operators cheek through friction and to obviate the danger of burns from either excessive heat or cold. Such a covering or protecting sheath 58 preferably consists of cork but may obviously be of some fabric or other non-metallic material adapted to at least reduce the transmission of heat or cold from the plate 30 which, of course, is desirable for military use under extreme temperature conditions.

I claim;

1. In combination with the stock of a firearm having a laterally-extending hole therethrough, a cheek-rest construction comprising, a cheekplate member provided with a rod which extends laterally therefrom, receiver members consisting of hollow bushing-like parts disposed in opposite end portions of said hole, said rod being screwthreaded exteriorly and extending into one of said receiver members, a hollow operating member rotatably mounted in the other of said receiver members and threadably engaging the said threaded rod, a lock washer member on the inner end portion of said operating member, a nut member on said operating member adjacent said washer member and engageable therewith in looking relation, and spring means adapted to hold said nut member in engagement with said Washer member yet permit lateral movement thereof so that the lock washer member may be disengaged from said nut member.

2. In combination with the stock of a firearm having a pair of laterally-extending holes therethrough, a cheek-rest construction comprising a cheek-plate member provided with a pair of spaced rods which extend laterally in substantially the same direction therefrom, receiver members consisting of hollow bushing-like parts disposed in opposite end portions of one of said stock holes, one of said rOdS being screw-threaded exteriorly and extending into said receiver members, the other of said rods extending into the other of said stock holes and arranged to guide the plate member relative to said stock, a hollow operating member rotatabiy mounted in said receiver members and threadaby engaging the said threaded rod inserted therein, said operating member having one end portion projecting through said receiver member adjacent said plate member, a lock washer mounted on said end portion abutting said receiver member, a nut member threadably secured to said operating member adjacent said lock washer, a tongue projecting from the face of said lock washer and engageable with said nut member to prevent relative rotation of said nut member and lock washer, and resilient means operating between said operating member and one of said receiver members to bias said nut member into engagement with said tongue of said lock washer.

3. In combination with the stock of a firearm having a pair of laterally-extending holes therethrough, a cheek-rest construction comprising a cheek-plate member provided with a pair of spaced rods which extend laterally in substantially the same direction therefrom, one of said rods being screw-threaded exteriorly and extending into one of said stock holes, the other of said rods extending into the other of said stock holes and arranged to guide the plate member relative to said stock, a hollow operating member rotatably mounted in said one stock hole and threadably engaging the said threaded rod inserted therein, a lock washer mounted on one end portion of said operating member, a nut member threadably secured to said operating member adjacent said lock washer, means for preventing relative rotation of said nut member and lock washer, and resilient means associated with said operating member to bias said nut member into engagement with said lock washer.

4. In combination with the stock of a firearm having a pair of laterally-extending and inclined holes therethru, a cheek-rest construction comprising, a cheek-plate member provided with a pair of spaced rods which extend laterally in substantially the same direction therefrom, receiver members consisting of hollow bushinglike parts disposed in opposite end portions of one of said holes, one of said rods being screwthreaded exteriorly and extending into one of said receiver members, the other of said rods extending into the other of said stock holes and arranged to guide the plate member relative to said stock, a hollow operating member rotatably mounted in the other of said receiver members and threadably engaging the said threaded rod, said operating member having its inner end portion provided with a longitudinally extending slot, a lock washer member on said inner end portion provided with an inwardly-extending lip which is slidably disposed in said slot, a nut member threadably secured to said operating member adjacent said washer member and engageable therewith in locking relation, and spring means adapted to urge said operating member away from its respective receiver holding said nut member in engagement with said washer member, yet compressible to permit lateral movement thereof so that the lock washer member may be disengaged from said nut memher.

5. In combination with the stock of a firearm having a pair of laterally-extending and vertically inclined holes therethru, a cheek-rest construction comprising a cheek-plate member provided with a pair of spaced rods which extend laterally in substantially the same direction therefrom, receiver members consisting of hollow bushing-like parts disposed in opposite end portions of one of said stock hoes, one of said rods being screw-threaded exteriorly and extending into said receiver members, the other of said rods extending into the other of said stock holes and arranged to guide the plate member relative to said stock, a hollow operating member rotatably mounted in said receiver members and threadably engaging the said threaded rod inserted therein, said operating member having one end portion projecting thru said receiver member adjacent said plate member, a longitudinally extending slot in said end portion, a lock washer mounted on said end portion abutting said receiver member and having an inwardly-extending lip which is slidaby disposed in said slot, a nut member threadably secured to said operating member adjacent said lock washer, a tongue projecting from the face of said lock washer and engageable with said said nut member to prevent relative rotation of said nut member and lock washer, and resilient means operating between said operating member and one of said receiver members to bias said nut member into engagement with said tongue of said lock washer.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said resilient means comprises a detent slidably mounted in said operating member in axially parallel relationship, a spring biasing said detent into engagement with an adjacent surface of one of said receiver members, said surface having a notch therein engageable by said detent whereby said operating member may be resiliently secured in any selected one of a plurality of varying threaded engagement positions relative to said threaded rod to adjustably position said cheek-plate member relative to said stock.

JOHN C. GARAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 183,975 Rosee Oct. 31, 1876 717,011 Marsland et al. Dec. 30, 1902 1,083,872 Berthier Jan. 6, 1914 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,289 Great Britain 1901 114,228 Australia Nov. 13, 1941 

